Monday March 25, 1861

Fox's Report

Having returned to Washington, Fox
reported his assessment of Sumter's
condition to Lincoln. He affirmed the
feasibility of his plan, noting that at night it would be impossible
to see small landing boats before they reached the fort. He confirmed
that Anderson's troops were getting
short of provisions, and set April 15 noon as the deadline for
resupplying them.

Over the next few days, Fox met "frequently" with Lincoln, cabinet
members, and military authorities. He answered the objections of army
officers like Scott, who considered a
relief expedition impracticable, and presented testimony from high
ranking navy officers that supported his case. During one of these
discussions, Fox cautioned that valuable time was being lost and that
he "ought to be allowed to take the preparatory steps if there was
any possibility of sending it out."